Skip to content
Throwing the Bowlines

Throwing the Bowlines

Dream. Explore. Discover.

Menu
  • Home
  • About
    • Meet Amy
    • Leaving Footprints
  • Planning
    • Pre-Trip
    • Gear
    • Monthly Summaries
    • Where in the World?
    • Bucket List
  • Destinations
    • Asia
      • Borneo
      • Cambodia
      • Malaysia
      • Myanmar
      • Nepal
      • Singapore
      • Thailand
      • Vietnam
    • Australia
    • Europe
      • Croatia
      • Turkey
    • North America
    • Oceania
      • New Zealand
      • Cook Islands
  • Travel Tips
    • Inspiration
    • 50 Strands of Gray
  • Contact
Menu

Category: Pre-Trip

Travel Life Lesson #33: Be Generous

Posted on August 6, 2014November 4, 2025 by Amy

I have found that life lessons seem to be more prominent to me as I travel. Possibly because I am not focused on day to day tasks, work, or rushing through life. As I rode on the back of a motorbike through Vietnam, I was greeted with huge smiles and waves of children welcoming me…

Read more

Packing List

Posted on January 22, 2014April 23, 2014 by Amy

I have been fortunate to take some pretty amazing trips in the past….Africa, Europe, etc. in addition to weekend getaways.  I would have never considered myself a light packer, no matter the length of the trip.  I always over packed to ensure I had enough options and always had plenty of back up choices.  Last…

Read more

50 Strands of Gray: Choosing Medical Insurance

Posted on January 10, 2014 by Amy

There are a lot of fun things you have to do when planning a trip such as this (deciding where to go, buying fun gear, etc.).  But, there are also some “I-would-rather-pull-out-my-fingernails” type tasks that unfortunately you have to deal with.  Insurance…is one of those.  I spent quite a bit of time researching this subject…

Read more

There is Never a Perfect Time

Posted on December 29, 2013January 2, 2014 by Amy

If you wait until the time is perfect, it will never happen.  I have learned this in my instances of my life, but it is definitely accurate when it comes to long term travel…and maybe when it comes to having kids (so I hear).  When I first seriously started thinking about traveling long-term, I thought…

Read more

Pre-Trip Checklist

Posted on December 23, 2013December 23, 2013 by Amy

With less than 30 days until I leave, I am working diligently on checking things off of my to do list.  Thankfully, I was able to take care of most of the major items over the last year: Sold my house Had garage sale – sold what I could, and donated everything else Arranged for…

Read more

What kinda gone are we talkin’ bout here?

Posted on December 20, 2013December 20, 2013 by Amy

I am a big fan of country music and there is an older song I heard on the radio the other night by Chris Cagle called, What Kinda Gone.  It reminded me of my current situation because as I have been talking to people about my trip and answering all the questions, one of the…

Read more

One Way Ticket!

Posted on December 16, 2013December 18, 2013 by Amy

It’s official…I have booked a one way ticket to NEW ZEALAND!!!  After much consideration and planning, I have decided that I will begin my adventure in the land of Kiwis.  I couldn’t be more excited to have New Zealand as my launching pad!  I will be flying into Queenstown and I plan on spending a…

Read more

Travel Tip #1: Make a List

Posted on December 15, 2013December 18, 2013 by Amy

Planning a trip for a year comes with all kinds of challenges. As I continue to prepare, and actually get out there, I will share any advice, tips, and tricks I come across in the hopes that they can help some else in their planning. I am by no means an expert, but feel free…

Read more

It’s for real now….I Quit My Job

Posted on December 14, 2013December 18, 2013 by Amy

Last week I resigned from the job that I have held for nearly nine years.  This was probably the most difficult decision I made when determining whether I should travel.  Who in their right mind walks away from a great job, with amazing co-workers that they genuinely enjoy?  Me.  It was my time. I was…

Read more

Meet Amy

Posted on December 8, 2013May 28, 2014 by Amy

Hi!  I am Amy.  Born and raised in the Midwest.  The Ohio State University alum (Go Buckeyes!).  Moved to Colorado with no job and no friends, but determined to succeed.  Managed to make it…have lived in Denver, Colorado for the last 10 years.  Worked as a Program Manager and in Business Development for a government…

Read more

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails.

Explore. Dream. Discover.

Mark Twain

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails.

Explore. Dream. Discover.

Mark Twain
© 2026 Throwing the Bowlines | Powered by Superbs Personal Blog theme